*Before we begin I would like to say something I forgot to say in the previous chapter: this story is based on real-life events, the names and the crime have been changed to protect the innocent…
Part 10 – Trouble in Chinatown – Part 2
Back at the station, Sasuke and Shikamaru were briefing their superior on the case.
"So far we know that the motive wasn't robbery," Sasuke said, "A common thug doesn't shoot a random stranger twelve times if they want to get into his vault."
"You're thinking premeditated homicide," Iruka asked before turning to Shikamaru, "What do you think?"
"I honestly think that Sasuke is right," Shikamaru said, "This was a crime that required very strong emotions, the only reason you would shoot someone a dozen times unless you're unbelievably angry."
"What about that safe you had brought here," Iruka asked.
"Whoever shot Mr. Trang wanted what was in that safe," Sasuke said, "Maybe if we get it open, we can find out our motive."
"Is there any luck in tracking down this business partner of his," Shikamaru asked, "The one that threw Mr. Trang's computer across the room?"
"Adam Marco," Sasuke asked, "He's completely clean so no photograph, no record, no fingerprints, and no DNA on file. There is no way we can track him down unless we start getting anonymous tips."
"Did Mr. Trang have any other enemies," Iruka asked.
"He was a restaurant owner," Sasuke said, "Rival owners, former tenants of the building you name it. Right now we're trying to sift through a list of suspects so long we'll probably have to set up a queuing line that runs around the building to interview everyone."
"This is the kind of case that's not going to be fast like the last one," Shikamaru said.
"No shit," Sasuke said.
"Alright," Iruka said, "I'll have the safe kept in the evidence room, and I know a safecracker who can make it up from the Capitol. Meanwhile, ask around, regardless of brashness or not someone must know something."
"Sir," Sasuke and Shikamaru said as they walked out of their boss's office, and back to their desks.
"Where do you think we should get started," Shikamaru asked as he looked up at Sasuke.
"I was going to ask you that," Sasuke said, "Right now we have absolutely zero shortage of suspects, and our primary suspect is nowhere to be found."
"Detective Uchiha," one of the patrol officers said as he walked up to Sasuke's desk.
"Yes," Sasuke asked.
"We have a Mr. Uzumaki here to see you," the officer said, "He says he might know something about Mr. Trang's homicide."
Sasuke looked at the door to see Naruto standing there holding a small manila envelope, "Bring him into the break area," he said, "I'll interview him there."
As Sasuke walked into the interview area, he made a quick cup of coffee and placed it on a small coaster where he wanted Naruto to sit.
The patrol officer opened the door, and ushered Naruto in, "Sasuke," Naruto said.
"Hey buddy," Sasuke said as he pointed at the couch in front of the coffee table.
"I heard about Mr. Trang," Naruto said, "Horrible."
"How'd you hear about it so fast," Sasuke asked, "We just got back from the crime scene half an hour ago."
"KALB broadcasted it just fifteen minutes ago," Naruto said as he pulled out his phone, opened the headline, and handed it to Sasuke.
The timestamp on the story was just twenty minutes prior, the story went: Alexandria Police this morning responded to a report of shots fired at the Chinatown Buffet. An unnamed source among the Alexandria Police is reported has identified that the owner of the restaurant, Mr. Trang was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Police are now on the hunt for Mr. Trang's former business partner, Adam Marco who is believed to have an unspecified connection to Mr. Trang's murder.
Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose, and sighed, sometimes when an officer gets to seeing an attractive they get loose-lipped and start talking on things that should never be disclosed to the public. Now Adam Marco knew that the police were looking for him, and if he read that, then there's a chance he'd run and the possibility that they'd never see him.
"Ok," Sasuke said as he handed Naruto his phone back, "Just tell me what you know."
"As soon as I saw the name Adam Marco, I knew there was something I could help you with if you didn't have this," Naruto said as he held out the envelope to Sasuke, "Adam Marco came into the bar last week looking for a job as a cook. He gave me his resume, and the current address is on it."
Sasuke took the envelope from Naruto, opened it, and the resume was completely filled out, his address was listed as Apartment 24Q in the Nottingham Apartments on Queen Elizabeth CT.
"Thanks for that Naruto," Sasuke said as he slapped his friend on the shoulder, "Is there anything else you know?"
"Actually, yes," Naruto said as he pointed to the cup of coffee that Sasuke poured for, and Sasuke signaled for him to go ahead, "When Mr. Marco was talking to me, he made it a point to tell me that he had worked at another restaurant in the area and that they owed him money. It seemed like he departed on bad terms because he was talking all kinds of bad things about one of his former business partners," Naruto put the cup down after a few sips, "He said things like, 'That bastard owes me money', 'The jackass royally screwed me', 'I'm a better man than he'll ever be'. It seemed he harbored deep animosity for him."
"Unfortunately I can't talk to you about that," Sasuke said, "Regardless of whether or not we're friends, what happens during an investigation cannot be divulged to the public. It's one of those things that the department is really picky about."
"I wasn't going to ask," Naruto said, "Does make me a bit nervous though. He's gone after a few restaurant owners in town, of course, I've never had in problems with him, and suddenly he turns up dead."
"Well he's always wanted to privatize the Alexandria food scene," Sasuke said, "90% of the restaurants in this town are big-name chains. Meanwhile here you are, Konoha has been around since your grandfather, and here you are as one of the most successful restaurateurs in town."
"Speaking of which," Naruto said as he stood up, "I'm afraid I have to get back to Konoha. The restaurant isn't going to run itself."
"Ok," Sasuke said as he stood up to give Naruto their obligatory goodbye fist-bump before picking up the resume, "I'm going to keep this."
"Go right ahead," Naruto said, "I'll see you later bro."
"See you," Sasuke said.
As Naruto walked out of the station, Sasuke walked up to Shikamaru's desk, "Please tell me that's what I think that is," he said.
"If you think it's a resume Adam Marco filled out at Naruto's restaurant last week, with his current address on it, then you would be absolutely correct sir," Sasuke said as he handed the file to his partner.
"Sweet," Shikamaru said as he looked at the file, "Let's get down there, and start asking."
Flashback…
Next stop on the Uchiha senior trip list was to The Center of the Universe, Times Square.
I don't know another way of describing Times Square other than awe-inspiring, especially at night, but of course, they didn't go there at night: they went to Times Square right in the middle of Lunchtime which was the single most asinine ideas ever.
People rushing here and there, businessmen on their cell-phones, people rushing to the stands, going back and forth to and from work. It is impossible to describe the chaos that happens when you are going around Times Square during the 12:00 Lunch Rush.
Sasuke and Itachi decided to have their lunch while sitting on the billboard steps, a good old fashion American hotdog, and coke is sometimes all a man needs to feel alive.
Sasuke's choice: a 1/2 pound kielbasa with grilled onions and chipotle sauce on a poppy seed bun.
Itachi's choice: a 1/4 pound Vienna sausage with mustard, grilled onions, and sour kraut on a plain bun.
"There is always the option of joining Granma and Granddad in Monroe," Itachi said, "See if they'll put up the money for you to go back and get your masters."
"I don't know about that one," Sasuke said as he took a small bit of his hotdog, "While those two have always been supportive of me, you know after having me live with them for four years they wouldn't want me living with them for another two. They were hesitant to house me for these previous four years."
"Good point," Itachi said, "Even I was hesitant to put up with you when you were first born."
"Oh screw you," Sasuke said as he nudged his brother on the arm, "What other options do we have?"
"You could become a firefighter," Itachi said, "Not exactly FBI, but at least you'd have a badge."
Sasuke then looked over at the NYPD station, "Actually," he said, "You might be onto something there with the badge."
"What do you mean," Itachi asked.
Sasuke pointed at the NYPD station, "I think that looks pretty decent right there," he said.
"The NYPD," Itachi asked.
"No, no, way too far from home," Sasuke said, "And do you know how expensive it is to live up here? I'm thinking about working for the Alexandria Police Department."
"Become a cop," Itachi said, "You wouldn't be the first in our family to do that. Maybe you can get grandfathered in to carry great grandpappy's old service revolver."
"That old .357 he carried when he was Sheriff of Ouachita Parish," Sasuke asked, "I like revolvers, but that one might be a little too old for me to carry."
"I don't know," Itachi said as he took another bite of his hot dog, "There certainly are worse weapons to carry when you're a police officer."
"I'm not just talking about being a cop Itachi," Sasuke said.
"A SWAT officer," Itachi asked, Sasuke looked over at Itachi and shook his head, "A detective? You?"
"Why not," Sasuke asked, "I've always wanted to help people with their problems. Maybe as a detective, I can help Alexandria with its."
"I hope you're right on that one, Sasuke," Itachi said.
End Flashback…
The Nottingham apartments, quite honestly it seems to be the idea that a twelve-year-old Robin Hood fan had, don't get me wrong, it's an interesting idea, and it's been around for decades so it's a good set of apartments.
The parking lot is closed to the public, so pulling up in the front and parking is the best option if you're trying to visit someone.
The front desk area is just off the main entrance which just happens to be a larch archway, "Can I help you two gentlemen," the young receptionist said as she looked up to see Sasuke and Shikamaru enter.
"Alexandria PD," Shikamaru said as he held up his badge, "We understand an Adam Marco is a tenant in these apartments. We'd like to ask him some questions."
"Adam Marco," the woman said as she typed the name into the system, "Apartment 24Q," she pointed out the door, "Out the door, second floor, second building facing the pool."
"Thank you," Shikamaru said.
Sasuke and Shikamaru walked to the apartment, "Apartment 24Q," Shikamaru said.
Sasuke knocked on the door twice, "Alexandria Police," he said, "Open the door."
The door opened, and a man about thirty years old, Asian-Hispanic mix with brown eyes and black hair opened the door, he was dressed in a baggy pair of jogger pants and a baggy white shirt, it was pretty obvious he had only just woke up, "Can I help you gentlemen," he asked.
"Adam Marco," Shikamaru asked.
"Yes," Adam asked.
"I'm Detective Nara, this is my partner, Detective Uchiha," Shikamaru said, "We're investigating the murder of Johnny Trang."
"Murder," Adam asked, "That two-timing SOB is dead?"
"You don't sound too sad about his death," Sasuke said.
"I'm not," Adam said as he opened the door to let the two of them in, "Johnny was a walking volcano waiting to go off. When we opened Chinatown it was our idea to make the place a buffet that specialized in quality and quantity," Adam sat on a chair across from the couch Sasuke and Shikamaru sat at, "All Johnny saw were dollar signs. He used one small clause to turn our third partner against me and forced me out."
"Must have been difficult," Sasuke said, "We understand you have a contract that says Mr. Trang owed you about one hundred and fifty grand."
"Yes," Adam said, "I have my copy right over at my desk."
"May we see it," Shikamaru asked.
"Yes," Adam said, "I'll just go over there."
"Please," Sasuke said.
As Adam walked over to the desk, Shikamaru leaned over to Sasuke, "Not at all what I expected considering what Ms. Wong told us about that argument," he whispered.
"Maybe we don't know the whole story," Sasuke whispered, "Let's hear him out first."
Adam walked back to the two of them, flipped to a page towards the middle of the contract, and pointed at a section in the contract that he had highlighted, "Right there," he said.
"It states here that in the case of one member of the partnership being suspended that the suspended, the entitled party is due to the total amount of compensation," Sasuke said, "But it doesn't say anything about what should happen if the remaining party doesn't have the funds."
"Actually it does," Adam said as he took the contract, and flipped to the next page where another section was highlighted.
"Should the party that not have enough to cover the compensation that the two remaining partners will nominate one member of the party to compensate the dissolved," Sasuke read, "The way I heard it Mr. Trang was the third part selected, and that the checked bounced."
"Yea it did," Adam said.
"Must have been pretty mad about that," Shikamaru said.
"Now wait a minute," Adam said, "Are you suggesting that I had something to do with this?"
"You do have a $150,000 motive," Shikamaru said, "Opportunity, and we know about that argument you had with Mr. Trang."
"Ms. Wong told you about that," Adam said, "That's why you think I killed him."
"We're not paid to make accusations," Sasuke said, "We have one side, just tell us your side."
"I went in to confront Johnny," Adam said, "I was pissed, I'll admit, but I thought if I kept my cool it could have helped my case. We were discussing what we could do in the form of compensation, and Johnny flipped out. The next thing I knew we were screaming at each other, he picked up his laptop, and threw it at me."
"Mr. Trang threw it," Sasuke asked, "Ms. Wong said you threw it."
"She wasn't back there," Adam said, "Johnny always had a temper, they usually ended in explosive tirades."
"Where were you this morning around 6:00, 6:30," Sasuke asked.
"I was with a lawyer," Adam said, "We were up all night. I was planning to sue Johnny, and force him to either give me back my position in the restaurant or run him out. Guess that doesn't matter now."
What do you think…
